blessings...

if i'm being honest, sending libbi off to kindergarten was hard (it still is!), but mostly for selfish reasons. i missed her, i worried about her, i liked having her home with me, i wanted to know what she was doing all day, i, i, i,….. see a pattern there? it was so easy to become wrapped up in how i was feeling, that i could overlook the fact that SHE needed encouragement, too! a few months before kindergarten started, we began praying for her teacher and for her school year. we'd pray for courage, wisdom, and friendships. we prayed for libbi to be a shining light of jesus's love. and we prayed for her worries and her fears as she'd often say, "i'm nervous 'bout kindergarten…"

she is her momma's daughter and has a bit of an anxious heart. i know that when my worries threaten to take over, one of the things that calms my anxious heart is to quote scripture. the truth will set you free, right? so i claim the truths that i know and refuse to let those insecure doubts rule. i think it's so important to not only pray for my children, but to pray with them, and to teach them how to pray for themselves and for others. praying for others is an awesome privilege, but i think so often we neglect to take our own requests before the Lord. i want my girls to know that they can take anything to Him in prayer - their worries, fears, insecurities, questions, praises, worship, and on and on. 

the week before libbi started kindergarten, we attended a "blessings lunch" with some of her fellow soon-to-be-kindergarteners and their mommas. a group of three friends started the tradition of a blessings lunch years ago when their first babies were going off to kindergarten as a way to pray over their children and remind them of God's truths as they headed off to start their school year. 

we were thrilled to be a part of this year's lunch and the opportunity to pray blessings over the coming school year. each child that attended received a charm bracelet. the girls' bracelets had four charms: a heart, a cross, a butterfly, and their first initial. the boys' were more of a manly cuff ;) 
that had a cross, a fish, and a camo bead/button. 

each charm had a special meaning and a coordinating verse. the children can wear their bracelets and have tangible reminders of God's love and protection over them. each child also received a bag tag for their book bags with the verses and reminders on it. i love that libbi can wear her bracelet to school with each charm reminding her she is loved, protected, and chosen. and she can attach the bag tag to her book bag as a reminder to herself and to others. when she's nervous or when those anxious thoughts threaten to overwhelm her, she has a visible reminder of Truth that she can claim. i'm pretty sure that i could use a charm bracelet myself some days. :) 

i have listed the personalized and assembled blessing bag tags in my etsy shop - you can find them HERE.
you can have them customized with your choice of colors, names, fonts, even verses! 

If you'd like a generic copy of the printable you can download it for free….

(BOY version) CLICK HERE

(GIRL version) CLICK HERE

it measures approx 2.5 x 3.5 inches. 
you could print it and laminate it and create your own tag or bookmark. 

thank you to rea, zoe, and stacia for sharing your ideas and your blessings! 

if you have any questions feel free to email me: 

mrsamytippins@gmail.com

be blessed, friends! 

"You are young, but don’t let anyone treat you as if you are not important. Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them by what you say, by the way you live, by your love, by your faith, and by your pure life"

1 timothy 4:12